
SPS automotive performance takes class win at Bathurst
SPS automotive performance takes class win at Bathurst
In its second appearance at the Bathurst 12 Hour, SPS automotive performance achieved its first class victory together with The Heart of Racing. Ian James (GBR), Ross Gunn (GBR) and Zacharie Robichin (CAN) took first place in the Bronze category at the wheel of the #27 Mercedes-AMG GT3 under the Heart of Racing by SPS banner.
The legendary Mount Panorama Circuit in Australia was once again the venue for the season opener of the Intercontinental GT Challenge this weekend. At the Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour, the world's best GT3 teams and drivers lined up to collect important points for the drivers' and manufacturers' championship. The Heart of Racing by SPS joint venture also took up the challenge on the up-and-down track in New South Wales for the second time.
In qualifying, the driver trio of Ian James, Ross Gunn and debutant Zacharie Robichon put the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in second position on the grid in the Bronze class, laying the foundations for their subsequent success. At the start of the twelve-hour race, which was traditionally started at dawn at 5:45 a.m. local time, Ross Gunn took the wheel of the number 27 car. Gunn defended second position and took the lead in the bronze category in the first hour of the race, which the Briton quickly extended to several seconds. After the first driver change, Ian James initially lost the lead again due to an unforced incident, as he was spun off the track after being touched by a competitor. The trio then benefited from an incident involving the class leader and regained the lead. As a result, the blue Mercedes-AMG GT3 was already on course for class victory after the first third of the race. The team further extended its lead thanks to almost flawless and fast stints by all drivers and smooth pit stops. By the halfway point of the race, the lead had already grown to two laps. In the following hours, the team from Willsbach continued to extend its lead on the extremely demanding Mount Panorama Circuit and remained in the top 10 of the overall standings. After 305 laps, it was once again Ross Gunn who crossed the finish line with the #27 Mercedes-AMG GT3 as class winner in the Bronze category in seventh place overall. Heart of Racing by SPS thus celebrated its first class victory at the Bathurst 12 Hours after finishing second in the Pro-Am on its debut in 2024 and was also the best-placed car in the current edition of the Bathurst 12 Hour that did not compete in the Pro category.
After a short break, SPS automotive performance and The Heart of Racing will once again compete in the 24H Series with the blue Mercedes-AMG GT3.
Ian James, #27 Heart of Racing by SPS: "We are super happy with the result. We were still on the lead lap in the final hours and speculated that we might even be able to have a say in the overall standings with our strong drivers thanks to another safety car. But unfortunately there was no more safety car on the track. Nevertheless, as the best non-pro car, we are more than satisfied with the result."
Zacharie Robichon, #27 Heart of Racing by SPS: "I am very proud of what we achieved as a team today. We were the best non-Pro car and only one lap behind the winners. This was my first race here at Bathurst and I think I'll be coming here more often now."